SJP #008: Wendy Speake : Life Creative Starts at Home

Welcome to the Simply Joyful Podcast

Episode #008 with Wendy Speake

When we become moms it often feels like we lose part of our creative selves.The things we used to enjoy doing become memories. It's easy to start viewing motherhood as a choice that voids all the other things we thought we'd do in life.However, God can use motherhood to refine our gifts and talents and use them right where we are — at home. Now, by “at home” I'm not just talking to stay-at-home moms. I'm talking to all moms.

God did not make a mistake when He gave you all your incredible creativity and unique gifting. You can still use them. Sometimes it just looks a bit different than we first thought it would look.

On a “Simply” & “Joyful” side note…

This whole podcast talks about how to find joy using the creativity that God gives us. Our conversation was so rich and filled with goodness, tips for finding more joy, and how to simplify our big dreams and use our gifting right where God has us — that we never got to an “official” Simply Joyful moment at the end. So, don't miss this whole episode! It's all in there!

Wendy and me at a writer's conference in San Diego! This is the event she hosted and made her amazing scones for! Yum! (I need the recipe!)

Words to Remember

Here are a few fun quotes from this episode. Please feel free to “click to tweet” (below) or share the images below on social media.

In This Episode

In this episode Wendy and I talk about the dreams moms have and how we often feel hindered and burdened with motherhood. We hope you will be encouraged to explore the dreams, talents, and gifts that God has given you — even while being a mom!

I know you are going to be blown away by this encouraging episode with Wendy!

Highlights from This Show…

“I write about about parenting, and I find that it’s still tapping into the same skills of storytelling, but it’s all with the purpose of pointing women to Jesus.” — Wendy Speake

“God did a good job when He gave you all those other passions and all those other abilities. And so I’m encouraging you to find a way, find a time, find a tribe, find a group of women that can cheer you on in those things that you used to love before you became a mom.” — Wendy Speake

* Wendy shares about her friend, Kristen Schell who used a turquoise table to begin practicing hospitality when she was a mom.

* Wendy talks about how the Great Commision starts at home with your kids and that you can use your talents and dreams during your season of motherhood to share God’s love with not only your kids, but with others…even when feeling “Confined, yet unhindered.”

“This is the way God planned it, whether it’s jotting down the dreams in your notebook, or pulling out your sewing machine again, or working to invent new recipes, taking pictures, or pulling out the pottery wheel — or whatever it is, when you’re a mom, all the other dreams start at home, too. It starts here. But it can start.”— Wendy Speake

“That Great Commission call actually starts at home. The Scripture says first in Jerusalem, and then in Judea and Samaria, and from there, out into the world (Acts 1:8). And Jerusalem is the home for the early church, and then Judea and Samaria are the neighborhoods … and then from there, out into the world.” — Wendy Speake

“It is God’s power that can flow out of our homes.” — Wendy Speake

“I might not want to be auditioning for movies, I might not be throwing extravagant dinner parties, but this is creative me, doing something to show someone they’re loved by God.” — Wendy Speake

* Wendy answers Kristi’s question on what encouragement she has for moms who don’t know how to guard against the feelings and emotions that make them feel hindered and burdened: talk to your husband, let him know how you’re feeling during a time when communication is devoid of conflict and have some husband-and-wife teamwork for the next project you plan on doing.

* Kristi talks about how she was inspired hearing about Joanna Gaines's story in her new book The Magnolia Story.

* Wendy’s advice for moms who want to find balance is to redefine “balance.” She uses a life guard analogy to illustrate we need to surround our selves with people who encourage us to go out a little deeper…and sometimes remind us that we need to swim a little closer to shore.

“Balance is looking at the broad picture. If you can take a broader look at your life … then you won’t be so tempted to feel like you’re failing at balance.” — Wendy Speake

Books Mentioned…

Scripture Mentioned…

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” — Acts 1:8 (ESV)

“He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” — Acts 28:30-31

Cakes Mentioned!!!…

Please Note…

— Every podcast episode will have all the highlights and links from each episode (just like this) on my website. So, come on over to the blog to find the show notes.

— Be sure to grab your FREE copy of my book, Sanity Savers for Moms, by joining our Simply Joyful community. It's a great way to keep in touch…and get subscriber only freebies like my book. Click HERE to get the book and join!

— Make sure you head over to listen to my other interviews HERE! I know you will love these episodes!

Help Get the Word Out…

My prayer is that this podcast would be a blessing to all who hear it. If you enjoy this podcast, it would be such a blessing to have you “Subscribe” to this podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and leave me a rating and review. This helps the podcast to rank in iTunes and be more “visible” for people searching for new podcasts to listen to. If you wanted to share this episode with friends or on social media, I've created several great images that are share-worthy. Thanks!

My “Thank You” for Your Rating & Review on iTunes or Stitcher

If you do subscribe, rate, & review this podcast in iTunes or Stitcher, I'd love to thank you by giving you my new Sanity Savers for Moms Coloring Book for FREE! Just leave the review and email me, and I'll send you a coupon code to access the coloring book!

Thank you so much for helping us get the word out about the Simply Joyful Podcast!

How to Listen to The Simply Joyful Podcast!

If you are new to the concept of listening to podcasts, then “Wow!” are you in for a treat. It's kind of like an OnDemand radio station. They are so easy to listen to when you are on the go running errands or shuttling kids or just getting projects done around the house. My favorite time to listen to my favorite podcasts is while I'm out for a walk or folding laundry.

1) Subscribe to the Podcast! You won't miss an episode when you subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher. You can always access the podcast from either of these venues by searching for “Simply Joyful Podcast.”

2) Listen on your Phone! This is my preferred method of listening. If you have an iDevice (iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch), then you can listen on Apple's purple podcast app that comes on your device. If you have a non-iDevice, then Stitcher Radio is great to use. You can easily search for podcasts, subscribe, and — my favorite part — speed up the audio.

3) Listen right here on my Website! Super simple! All you have to do is just click on the play button on the podcast player located at the top of this post.

A Special Thanks to…

Rend Collective for allowing me to use their incredible song “The Joy of the Lord is My Strength.” This song has so much special meaning to me and it highlights the theme verse for my podcast — Nehemiah 8:10. Be sure to check out their music! They are such a fun band to listen to…and to see live.

Let's Connect!

Connect with Wendy…

As a trained actress and heartfelt Bible teacher, Wendy ministers to women’s hearts through storytelling and Biblical life applications. She utilizes drama, comedy, poetry, and the study of God’s Word. During her career in Hollywood, Wendy longed to tell stories that would edify and encourage women. Today, she does just that — writing books and performing dramatic Bible studies that move audiences closer to Jesus! Wendy is co-author of the popular parenting book Triggers: Exchanging Parents’ Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses and Life Creative: Inspiration for Today’s Renaissance Mom. Wendy residing in Southern California with her husband and their 3 ruddy boys.

Reader Interactions

Comments

This is so amazing!! Thank you for this podcast. I desperately needed this! My husband travels a lot and so I have our three and four year old kids to myself for weeks at a time and I feel like I have lost myself. This helped me to remember who I was before I had kids and how much I miss that woman. I am going to make space, even a little to be who I am and still be a mom! Bless you both!!

Yes!! My husband travels, too. It’s so easy to feel like you’ve lost yourself. Don’t laugh, but I just watched that new animated movie, Sing, and totally teared up with the mom character got to sing for the show. 🙂 Silly. But the point is that we all need something. I’m so happy that you are going to make time!! It will bless your whole family!!

[…] Gentle Biblical Responses. She wrote Triggers along side Wendy Speake as Wendy and I mentioned in Episode #008. Amber is married to her husband Guy, who by the way went to Steve and my alma mater. They’ve […]